Page 15 of Oops, My Professor Got Me Pregnant!

“Papa, hand me that piece.” Louis pointed to a cardboard piece with part of a wheel on it that was sitting by Nico’s right hand. He obediently handed it over, already slightly annoyed with himself. Even though he wasn’t going to see Lauren again, he was still letting thoughts of her distract him from time with his son.

“Nico, would you like some coffee?” Rose asked.

“Yes, please.”

“Will you help me make it?”

Nico got to his feet and followed his mother to the kitchen, where she began preparing a cup of coffee with the machine Nico had gotten her last Christmas. Once everything was set up, she turned and leaned against the counter, then fixed Nico with an intense look.

Although she was in her late fifties, Rose still looked like a young woman. Her face was bright and she was athletic, even more so than Nico. The only sign of her age was a long gray braid draped over her shoulder — and perhaps the way she seemed to know instantly when something was off with her son.

“Is everything all right with you?” Rose asked.

“Yes, of course.” Nico crossed his arms and leaned back against the table.

Rose looked him up and down. “You look just like you did as a teenager when you were trying to hide something.”

Annoyed, Nico dropped his arms to his sides. “Well, nothing is going on. I’m sorry I was late this morning, but that was it. Really.”

“Okay, okay.” Rose raised her hands. “You don’t have to tell me. But when you’re ready to talk, I’m here.”

For a moment, Nico considered telling her about Lauren. Since Nico had become a single parent, Rose had been his confidant and biggest supporter. But it still wouldn’t feel right to tell his mother about his date with Lauren. Nico would keep this to himself for now.

“I appreciate that. Really. And thanks for the coffee.” Nico accepted the steaming cup from his mother and followed her back into the living room. Louis was almost done with the puzzle, and as Nico took a seat, he clicked the third to last piece into place.

“What are we doing today?” Louis asked.

“I was thinking we could have a nice walk by the river. We haven’t done that in a while.”

Sure, going back to the Seine would bring up memories of Lauren, but that didn’t mean Nico shouldn’t do it. They’d only known each other a short time. The intense attraction he felt now would soon fade if he just ignored it.

Wouldn’t it?

Once Nico had finished his coffee and Louis had finished his puzzle, they both said goodbye to Rose. Nico helped Louis with his backpack and they got on the bus to the river, where Louis launched into an excited conversation about a new “invention” that he was hoping to make out of cardboard toilet-paper rolls and rubber balls when they got home.

Nico did his best to listen, but it was a struggle. Despite his resolution to just put Lauren out of his mind, he kept imagining that he saw her on the sidewalk or sitting at a café. Those memories from yesterday, both from the night they’d spent together and the amazing day they’d had in Paris, were fresh in his mind.

It might be harder to let Lauren go than he had thought.

CHAPTER 6

LAUREN

Lauren woke up slowly to the warmth of sun on her face. It took her a moment to realize that she was in Paris (where she lived now!) and another moment to remember than she hadn’t gone to bed alone. Memories of the night with Nico flashed through her mind and she felt herself blushing even before she opened her eyes.

Maybe she and Nico would spend the morning together. They could get brunch at a café or go for a walk. It was Saturday, after all, so Nico might even be free.

Not that they needed to spend the morning together. Lauren could wait for their second date — as long as Nico was as interested as she was in there being a second date.

With a yawn, she opened her eyes. The sun was bright, but as she adjusted to the light, she noticed that she was alone in bed. There was no sign of Nico anywhere in the small room.

Confused and a little worried, Lauren slid out of bed and pulled on a robe. Then she checked the small bathroom and even opened the closet, as if Nico could have hidden in there. Slowly, the realization dawned on her that he wasn’t there. After their night together, he’d just left without a goodbye.

Lauren scanned the room again for sign that Nico might be coming back, but his clothes, shoes, and bag were all gone. He’d completely disappeared, without waking her up.

Then Lauren caught sight of a note on the desk and hurried over, hope rising again. Maybe he had just run out to get coffee. Or maybe something had come up and he’d had to leave quickly, but he’d left his number so they could be in touch.

Lauren lifted the note and felt her hopes disappear.

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